As we reach the final leg of the 2024 Dakar Rally on Friday, January 19, we’ve completed a 15-day endurance course that spans 4,903 miles. The route is not for the faint of heart as it includes public roads and trails that lead to timed special stages, totaling 2,937 miles. Think of it as driving almost from Boston to Los Angeles, with stages 5 and 6 covering a distance of 451.7 miles each, while Stage 7 is even longer.
This is not just a race of speed, but also of endurance and resourcefulness. Competitors are often required to fix their own vehicles during the race, with very limited time to do it – a true test of their mechanical skills. In cases of a breakdown when team assistance is allowed, competitors may find themselves waiting in the desert for crucial support. All this, captured in the moving images provided by Red Bull’s video team.
For static images, Reuters offers a stunning gallery of helicopter shots, showcasing the beauty and danger of the Dakar Rally. Over 100 captivating images are available for those inclined to view.
In a different vein, a Red Bull video features two-time Dakar winner Sam Sunderland explaining the race’s roadbook. An indispensable tool, the roadbook is a lengthy scroll with instructions riders must decipher while traveling at breakneck speeds. Sunderland’s explanation gives insight into this critical component of the race.
As of the time of writing, only two stages remain. Competitors are locked in a tight battle, as the overall leader Guerlain Chicherit has only a 12-minute lead. The Ford Performance M-Sport Ranger T1+ is nipping at the heels of the leaders, falling just 19 minutes behind the front-runner. In the UTV category, American Sara Price has made history by becoming the third woman to win a stage in Dakar history. This achievement adds further excitement to what will surely be an electrifying end to the 2024 Dakar Rally.
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